The Little Train of Pelion

The Pelion Railway, on which rides the fabled Little Train of
Pelion, is a narrow gauge railway line in Greece, originally
operated by Thessaly Railways. The train runs as a connection
between the city of Volos and the town of Mileai on Pelion.

The first part of the track was constructed in 1886 connecting
Volos to Larissa, and, after its popularity it was decided that the
track would be extended to connect Volos with the environs of the
Pelion Peninsula. The first train to grace the track was called
Moutzouris, it had 26 wagons, 14 used as passenger carriages and
the remaining 12 were utilised for cargo transportation, benefiting
greatly for the recent affluence of the area. Many of the villages
that the train connected relied upon it as their only means of
transportation to the wider continent.

The train's journey is steeped in the mythos of Greece, and
crosses the legendary routes of the Centaurs. Ancient Greek
mythology has it that Pelion was the summer habitat of the twelve
gods of Olympus. The station of Milies reportedly sits close to the
site where Pileas and Thetis were wed, the parents of Achilles.
Another mythical site is passed by on the final turn of the track
before Milies. In one of the many gorges the train passes through,
a mythical cave awaits, said to be that of Centaur Chiron, an
important figure in Greek mythology. Chiron was the teacher of
Achilles, it is said that he gave Achilles the spear that he
eventually wielded in the Trojan War. The cave is at the base
of the rock where the chapel of Taxiarchis is found today.

It is important to recognise the way that this famous train has
helped the region it runs through, the importance of the freight it
carried, and today how its tourists continue to visit the area.
Much of the past affluence of the Pelion region can be attributed
to this train, and the way in which it facilitated the growth of
local industries and trade. It is also entwined in the mythology of
Greece, passing many famous sites. Overall the train is more than
just the icon it represents today, and is emblematic of the wider
history of the region and of the people who used to inhabit it.

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